"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
It’s too much for me to take, and it’s keeping me awake
But how was I supposed to know that you still want me?
It’s too much for me to take, and it beats me every day
But how was I supposed to know that you still loved me?
It’s a game that we all play
It’s our hearts that we betray
And I can’t give my all away
It won’t be long before you’re gone, it won’t be long
It’s too real for me to fake you’re on my mind most every day
But how am I how am I to reassure you
When it escapes me every time and all the words I seem to find
Never seem to be the ones that say I love you
It’s a game that we all play
It’s our hearts that we betray
And I can’t give my all away
It won’t be long before you’re gone, it won’t be long
Every night, every day
You’re the one thing I cant face
If my mind should ever change you’ll probably turn your back away
If I were a better man would you still want me?
But it’s too late for me to change I will always be this way
And anyway I think you’re better off without me
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
But how was I supposed to know that you still want me?
It’s too much for me to take, and it beats me every day
But how was I supposed to know that you still loved me?
It’s a game that we all play
It’s our hearts that we betray
And I can’t give my all away
It won’t be long before you’re gone, it won’t be long
It’s too real for me to fake you’re on my mind most every day
But how am I how am I to reassure you
When it escapes me every time and all the words I seem to find
Never seem to be the ones that say I love you
It’s a game that we all play
It’s our hearts that we betray
And I can’t give my all away
It won’t be long before you’re gone, it won’t be long
Every night, every day
You’re the one thing I cant face
If my mind should ever change you’ll probably turn your back away
If I were a better man would you still want me?
But it’s too late for me to change I will always be this way
And anyway I think you’re better off without me
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
It won’t be long
Lyrics submitted by Golgotha
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Wu-Tang Clan
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
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Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
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Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
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